The Complete Pre-Trek Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Hiking the W Trek in Patagonia

The W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park is one of the world's most spectacular multi-day hikes, but getting there and preparing properly requires careful planning. I tackled this trek in January 2025, and while the hike itself is unforgettable, the logistics of flying in, gearing up, and organizing your trip can make or break your experience. Here's everything you need to know to prepare for the W Trek, from flights to gear shops to local food you can't miss.

Getting to Puerto Natales: Your Gateway to Torres del Paine

Flying Into Chilean Patagonia

Your journey starts in Santiago, Chile's capital. From there, you'll need to fly to Punta Arenas, the closest major airport to Torres del Paine. Most flights from Santiago to Punta Arenas take around 3 hours and include a brief stop in Punta Arenas where the plane drops off passengers before continuing to Puerto Natales. I stayed on the plane during this stop—they just opened the doors, let some passengers off, and we continued on.

Direct flights from Santiago start around $40 USD one-way if you book in advance, though prices can climb significantly during peak season (December through February). Airlines like LATAM and Sky Airlines operate this route regularly.

The Final Leg: Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales

If your flight terminates in Punta Arenas instead of continuing to Puerto Natales, you'll need to take a bus. The journey takes approximately 3 hours, with buses departing throughout the day. Bus Sur is the main operator, with departures during high season (September to April) at 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 15:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, and 21:00. Tickets cost around $12-15 USD.

Puerto Natales does have a small airport, but flights are limited and often more expensive than the Santiago-Punta Arenas-Puerto Natales route.

Critical Planning: Book Your Campsites Early

Before you even think about flights, you need to understand the campsite booking system. Two private companies—Vertice Patagonia and Las Torres—manage all the campsites and refugios along the W Trek. You'll need to book with both companies to complete the full trek.

Vertice Patagonia operates: Grey, Paine Grande, Dickson, and Los PerrosLas Torres operates: Central, Serón, Francés, Los Cuernos, and Chileno

For peak season (December through February, especially around Christmas, New Year's, and mid-January), campsites sell out within days of booking windows opening. Bookings typically open around August for the following season. I hiked in January and needed to book several months in advance.

The minimum recommended booking timeline:

• Peak season (Dec-Feb): Book as soon as reservations open (often 6+ months ahead)
• Shoulder season (Oct-Nov, Mar-Apr): Book at least 3-4 months in advance

You can now use platforms like TorresHike or BookingPatagonia to book all campsites in one place, which simplifies dealing with two separate companies. Campsite prices range from around $11-40 USD per night depending on location and whether you're bringing your own tent or renting one.

Essential Pre-Trek Tasks in Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales is your base camp before and after the trek. Plan to spend at least one full day here to handle all your prep work.

Last-Minute Gear Shopping

Even if you've packed meticulously, you might need last-minute items. Puerto Natales has several outdoor gear shops:

Aco Outdoor - Located on Magallanes street, stocks a variety of trekking equipmentVolcanica Outdoors - Another solid option for gear purchasesRental Natales - On Herman Eberhard street, this is the most highly recommended rental shop in town. They offer top-quality gear including tents, sleeping bags, trekking poles, and more. The owner, Guillermo, is incredibly knowledgeable and can answer questions about trail conditions.Erratic Rock - Stocks major brands like MSR, Thermarest, Marmot, and North Face. They also host free daily trek talks at 3 PM with valuable trail information.Kallpamayu - Located at Arturo Prat 297

Expect to pay around $14-22 USD per day for a full rental kit including tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, and trekking poles.

The Trekking Pole Problem

Here's something I learned the hard way: you cannot bring trekking poles in your carry-on luggage. If you're flying with trekking poles, you'll need to check your bag. Otherwise, plan to rent or buy poles in Puerto Natales. Most shops stock lightweight, durable poles that held up perfectly on the trail.

Stocking Up on Trail Food

Frutos Secos is an excellent shop for trail provisions. They specialize in dried nuts, fruits, and other lightweight, calorie-dense snacks perfect for multi-day trekking. Most campsites along the W Trek have small shops and restaurants where you can buy supplies or meals, but bringing your own food is significantly cheaper.

Park Entrance and Transportation

You must purchase your Torres del Paine National Park entrance ticket online in advance through the CONAF website (pasesparques.cl). The entrance fee for foreigners is approximately $49 USD. Download your QR code ticket before leaving Puerto Natales, as there's no cell service in the park.

Several bus companies run daily services from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine:

• Bus Sur (most popular)
• Buses Gomez
• Base Torres
• Turismo Zaahj

Departure times are typically 7:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 2:30 PM, with additional departures during high season. The journey takes about 2 hours to Laguna Amarga entrance or 3 hours to Pudeto (depending on your starting point for the W Trek). Tickets cost approximately $12-16 USD one-way.

You can purchase bus tickets at the Puerto Natales bus terminal or through most hostels and hotels. I recommend booking your return bus ticket while you're still in town to guarantee a seat.

Don't Miss: The Food in Puerto Natales

After days of freeze-dried meals on the trail, Puerto Natales offers some incredible dining options.

Centolla: The King Crab You Need to Try

Centolla (king crab) is the regional specialty, caught in the frigid waters of Patagonia's fjords. Santolla is the go-to restaurant, housed in repurposed shipping containers. Their chupe de centolla (king crab casserole with cheese and white sauce) and fresh crab legs in white wine sauce are outstanding. The place fills up fast, so make reservations.

Other restaurants worth visiting:

• El Brisket - Decent spot with solid food
• Panadería on Tomás Rogers street - This local bakery serves excellent empanada-style hot pockets and fresh baked goods, perfect for carb-loading before or after your trek
• Mesita Grande - Popular with hikers for pizza and pasta
• Afrigonia - Fusion cuisine with Patagonian ingredients
• Baguales Brewery - The only brewery in Puerto Natales, with award-winning beers and great food

Gear Checklist: What to Bring

Here's my gear list from the trek: https://lighterpack.com/r/ll2vt0

I'll be writing a separate detailed packing list article, but the essentials include:

• Four-season sleeping bag rated to -10°C
• Quality hiking boots (already broken in)
• Waterproof jacket and pants
• Base layers and warm mid-layers
• Trekking poles (rent or check your bag)
• Headlamp
• Water treatment (though trail water is generally safe)
• First aid kit
• High-calorie trail food

Budget Expectations

Here's a rough breakdown of pre-trek costs:

• Flights (Santiago to Punta Arenas): $40-100 USD one-way
• Bus (Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales): $12-15 USD
• Bus (Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine): $12-16 USD one-way
• Accommodation in Puerto Natales: $15-60 USD per night
• Gear rental: $14-22 USD per day
• Park entrance: $49 USD
• Campsites: $11-40 USD per night
• Meals in Puerto Natales: $10-30 USD per meal

Final Tips

1. Bring cash - Many services in Puerto Natales and all services in the park require cash (Chilean pesos). ATMs are available in Puerto Natales.
2. Download offline maps - Cell service is nonexistent in the park. Download maps on Mapy.com before leaving Puerto Natales.
3. Check weather forecasts - Patagonian weather is notoriously unpredictable, but checking the forecast can help you pack appropriately.
4. Start early - Most hikers catch the 7 AM bus to maximize daylight on the first day.
5. Leave storage - Many hostels in Puerto Natales will store your excess luggage for free while you're on the trek.

The W Trek is one of the most rewarding hikes in the world, but it requires thorough preparation. Book your campsites early, give yourself time in Puerto Natales to gear up and organize, and don't skip the centolla. The logistics might seem overwhelming at first, but once you're on the trail with those jaw-dropping Patagonian views, every bit of planning will be worth it.